World Interfaith Harmony Week opens next week under patronage of prime minister

Amman, Jan. 29 (Petra) - Under the patronage of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs will hold a ceremony next Tuesday to launch the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was proclaimed by the General Assembly through a resolution adopted on 20 October 2010. In the resolution, the General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week was established as a way to promote harmony among all people regardless of their faith.

Recognizing the imperative need for a dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among the people, the General Assembly called on all the States for support to the week to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill across the world’s mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.

Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hayel Abdul Hafeez Dawood told Petra that the meeting is an important occasion to remind people all over the world of the good teachings of all religions that bring together the followers of all monotheistic beliefs.

In September 2010, His Majesty King Abdullah proposed the launch of the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the UN General Assembly, which adopted the initiative.

The event, which will bring together Islamic and Christian religious figures, intellectuals and researchers from Jordan and the other Arab, Islamic and friendly countries, will tackle issues and concepts of harmony, tolerance and coexistence among followers of all religions.